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(No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

A. J. MASON. WASHER PUNOHING MACHINE.

1 104 14317. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (No Model.) 3 SheetSSheet 2.

A. J. MASON. WASHER PUNUHING MACHINE.

No. 444,917. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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IN VENTOR m: NORRIS Runs 00., FHOTO-LITPKL, WASHINGYGN, n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-$heet 3. A. J. MASON. .WASHER PUNUHING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES 1 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

AMOR J. MASON, OF NORRISTOXVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES P.

. MASON, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHER-PUNCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,917, dated January20, 1891.

Application filed July 25, 1890. derial No. 359,958. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, AMOR J. MASON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVVasher-Punching Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be asufficiently full, clear, and exact description thereof as to enableothers skilled in the art to make and use the said invention.

This invention relates to machines for punching washers and similarforms having perforations therein from strips of metallic plate metal,and has for its object the economy of material by diminishing the amountof scrap, facility and certainty of accuracy in supplying or feedingmetal to the machine, facility of changing the dies and punches to makedifferent sizes without loss of time in making adjustment, certainty andrapidity of action in discharging the washers or other forms and thescrap, the automatic sorting of the washers from the scrap, betterdurability of the punches and dies, and facility of sharpenin g the diesand punches by grinding when worn without altering the sizes of thearticlcs produced by them.

To accomplish these ends this invention consists in a machineconstructed as hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which-- Figure 1 shows a side elevation thereof; Fig. 2, anend elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a top view thereof; Fig. 4, asection inthe plane indicated by the dotted line so at in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5,

an enlarged detached front View of the dies and central punches for thewashers; Fig. 6, a central section through one of the dies and thecentral punches fitted thereto; Fig. 7, a detached view of the annularpunches; Fig. 8, a central section of one of the annular punches; Fig.9,a detached View of the mechanism for separating scrap from thewashers; Fig. 0, a detached view of the guiding and feeding mechanism;Fig. 11, a detached view of the mechanism for discharging the washersfrom the dies; Fig. 12, a detached view of the mechanism for dischargingthe central scrap from the hollow punch and the stripper for dischargingthe scrap from between the annular punches; Fig. 13, the method oflaying out or projecting the dies and punches for the best economy ofmaterial when an even number is used Fig. 14, the method of laying outor projecting the dies and punches for best economy of metal when anuneven number is used, and Fig. 15 the method of laying out dies forsimilar economy in a single line oblique to the direction of the motionof the sheet of metal as fed to the machine.

1 1 represent the side frames of the machine, held togethersidewise byends or cross bars 2 2, which have flanges 3 3, embracing the ends ofthe side frames 1 1, and prevent ing them from spreading laterally.

Parallel with each of the side frames 1 1 are two wrought-metal bolts 4.a, which extend through the heads 2 2 and are provided with nuts 5 5,screwed upon their ends, thus holding the ends 2 2 in firm contact withthe sides 1 1 and sustaining all tensile strains in the direction of thelength of the machine, and, by avoiding any strain upon the side frames1 1, leaving the frames unimpaired by springing in performing accuratelytheir functions of guiding the disks and punches, as hereinafterdescribed.

Through the centers of the frames 1 l is fitted in suitable bearings ashaft 6, bearing an eccentric '7, extending in the direction of thelength of the shaft 6 the entire distance between the side frames 1 1.Fitted upon the eccentric 7 are boxes 8, which are fitted so as to slidevertically in slots 9 in the frame 8 5 10, so that the frame 10 isreciprocated hori-. zontally by the eccentric 7, the frame 10 beingguided accurately between the side frames 1 1 and resting on the bottomslides 11, and held down in position by the caps 12, secured to the sideframes 1 1, sliding smoothly and accurately between them. Through theframe 10 are openings in which are inserted crossbars 13, which arefastened to the side frames,

1 1, and have inclined surfaces against which 5 rest the keys 14. Uponthe ends of the frame 10 are formed recesses or seats 15,into which fitthe beds or chucks 16 for holding the dies 17. Corresponding recesses 18are formedin. the end cross-bars 2 2, in which the loo punch-holders orbeds 19 fit. In each of the end cross hars is a recess in which isfitted a plunger 21, reciprocated by a lever 22, pivotally connectedthereto by abolt 23.

The machine being symmetrical, a description of the punches and dies andtheir adjuncts for one side or end of the machine suffices for both.

The lever 22 has at one end a fulcrum 24, formed on the end bars 2, andis operated from the other. end by a rod 25, adjnstably attached byscrews 26 and nuts 27 to a yoke 28, which is reciprocated by a cam 29 onthe shaft 6. In the end cross-bars 2 2 are-formed inclined grooves 31,in which fit correspondingly-inclined keys 32, vertically adjustable bymeans of screws 33, which keys bearing against the backs of thepunch-beds 19, furnish; a means of adjusting them in the direction ofthe length of the stroke of the punches and thereby regulating the depthto which the punches may enter the dies.

The dies 34 are made in the form of a hollow cylinder with fiat ends andhaving a central. hole 35 in the bottom, in which fits a cylindric punch36 for piercing the holes in the washers. A collar is formed on the backend, of the punch 36 and a corresponding; counterbore 37 is formed inthe die to receive it, so

that the washers may not by sticking in the punch 36 pull it out of thedie 34. A similar collar 38 is formed on the back of the die 34, whichmay fit ina corresponding counterbore inthe die-holder or bed 16 19, ormay rest against the back of the die-holder 16 and insures the retentionof the dies 34in the bed 19.

In the bottom of the die 34, between the central opening for the punch36 and the cylindric inner surface, are several holes 39', through whichrods 40 work freely and serve toexpel the washers from the die. The rods40'ha;ve shoulders 41 to prevent them project'ing too far through thedie 34, and are furnished with springs 42 to retract them and are thrustoutward by the wedge 14.

The punch-bed 19 is rectangular in outer form and fits. accurately in aseat 18, formed in the cross-bar 2, being held down by the cap 43,. andmay bev lifted out by an eyebolt screwed into a suitable opening in itsupper side.

The punches 44 are hollow cylinders fitted in a chuck-plate 45, beingheld therein by a collar'46, formed on the back end of, each in the.chuck-plate 45. The chuck-plate 45 is fitted upon a rectangular chuckplate 19, which fits accurately in a recess 18, formed in the side ofthecross-bars 2, and is held in place by a cap-plate 43, secured by screws50. The plate 45 is attached to the chuck-plate 19 and heldin positionby stead y-pins 51 (shown in lhg.v 12,) and when once fitted so that thepunches 44 register with the dies 34 they remain together and areintroduced and withdrawn from the machine by means of an eyebolt 52, sothat whenasetof dies andpunches have been fitted they merely require tobe lowered and clamped when required for subsequent use Without anytrouble or labor of readjustment.

Through the center of each punch 44 is a plunger or rod 53, which expelsthe metal cut from the eye of the washer from the central cavity of thepunch. The rod 53 is formed with a collar 54 upon the rear end andprovided with a spring 55 to retract it, and is forced outwardly by theplunger 21, which can be adjusted so as to leave only so much of the rod53 project beyond the face of the punch as is requisite to discharge thescrap.

The punches 44 are surrounded by a plate 56, which acts as a stripper inclearing off the scraps of metal intervening between the washers. 57,which are. fitted similarly to the rods 53, and are worked by the sameplunger 21.

A stationary shear-blade 58 is securedto the frame 1, and a movableshear-blade.59-, workingagainst it, is secured to the frame 1, so as tobe oscillated by the reciprocation of the frame 10 to cut into shortpieces any scraps which might otherwise remain beyond the line of theouter row of washers in the sheet in the event of the plates being widerthan was required. The cutting off of any-surplus metal into short scrapis important, because if left to project in a long strip it hinders theprompt feeding of the plate metal to the machine.

The dies and punches are arranged in the manner shown in Figs. 13 and14, equidistantly in two vertical lines. The central distance which thepunches and dies have between them is equal to the distance between theouter ends of the two radii of length equal to the diameter of thewasher placed at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees to eachother, and the centers of the punches in the next line of holes arelocatedso as to coincide with one' of the angles of. an equilateraltriangle, the other angles-of which co-' incide with centers of punchesin the first row.

In Fig. 13 there are shown two rows of punches, each equal in number. InFig. 14 there are two rows, the second row containing one less than thefirst row. In Fig. 15 are shown three punch s or dies arranged in asingle row oblique to the direction of the feeding motion which isindicated by the arrow. The extent of motion is indicated in the dottedcircles.

Upon Figs. 13 and 14 are marked dotted circles equal in diameter to thesize'of the washers. These circles indicate the positions which thewashers occupy in the sheet metal, and it will be observed that theedges of the several circles are in contact with each other. A stop-pin61 is placed on the-die so that the edge of the plate at the point atwhich the washer had been previously cut will touch the pin and leave nometal between it and the edge of the die. when the plate is forcedagainst it. A gage-pin 62 is placed upon the This stripper-plate 56is-secured to rods IIO a r r917 highest punch in the die which limitsthe height to which the plate may be raised.

Beneath a plate of metal is a supporting; and lifting plate 63,suspended adj ustably from a bolt 64 and nut 65 from a spring 66, (shownin Fig. 10,) one end of which is attached to a tin cap 43, and the freeend 67 is inclined downward, so as to be raised by the end of the framein advance of the dies reaching the plate, so that while the plate isfree to move at intervals between each punching operation it is raisedand pressed against the gage-pin (52 during each cutting operation ofthe punches. By this arrangement any excess of width of metal in thesheet occurs at the lower edge and is always within reach of theshear-blades 58 and 59 to be divided into short scraps.

The metal from which the washers are cut is presented in the form ofwide strips or sheets by the hands of an attendant with the endforemost: and with the sides of the plate held perpendicularly andpushed into the space between the punches and dies from the front sideof the machine, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, until the end of theplate meets the pin (51 and with the lower edge of the plate resting onthe lifting-plate (53. As the punches approach the dies, the spring 66rises and carries with it the bolt 64:, nut (55, and plate (33, liftingthe sheet of metal into contact with the gage-pin 62. The inward strokeof the punches to the dies being com pleted, the washers are severedfrom the plate and the central scrap cut from the eyes of the washers.On the returning or outward stroke of the punches from the dies thecentral scrap is expelled from the punches, as hereinafter I explained.It should be observed that the machine, as shown, is duplex and theopposite sides or ends act alternately, the outward stroke of one set ofpunches taking place at the same time as the inward stroke of the otherset of punches.

The washers are expelled from the dies by the rods 40, operated by thewedge 14, and re tracted by the springs 42. By means of wedges 14controlled by screws the dies 34 are adjusted to the length of thepunches and by means of the wedges 32 the rods 53 are adjusted so thatat every returning stroke the scrap is expelled from the center of thepunches. The expulsion of the scrap takes place during the earlier partof the motion of the frame 10 and the expulsion of the washer during thelater part of the motion.

In order to separate the washers from the scrap, a plate 71 (shown inFig. 9) is placed upon an arbor 72 below the frame 1 l of the machine,and connected by a link 73 and lever 7 4 to the slide 10, so that whenthe scraps fall they are turned toward the center of the machine, andwhen the washers fall they'are directed toward the end of the machine.Power is applied by tootlrgearing to the shaft 6 in the manner usualwith this class of machines.

It is obvious that the best economy of material is secured by usingbroad sheets of metal because of the Waste which is inevitable at theedges, and it is equally clear that other articles having similarforms-such as nuts-may be produced in like manner.

By reason of the true cylindric forms of the punches and dies theyretain their diametral sizes when ground upon their faces to sharpen thecutting-edges and the machine is readily adjusted by the wedges 32 tosuch changes in length as ensue from this operation.

Having described my invention and the operation thereof, what I claimis- 1. In a machine forpunching washers from plate metal, the dies andpunches, arranged in rows with intermediate spaces equal to the outerdimensions of the washer, to punch washers from the plate from theportion intermediate between previous punching to avoid waste, in themanner set forth, shown, and described.

'2. In a machine for punching washers from plate metal, thehorizontally-reciprocating slide having dies attached thereto uponopposite ends thereof, in combination with opposed stationary punchessupported endwise by adjustable keys resting upon the station- 9 aryframe, substant1ally as and for the purpose set forth.

In a machine for punchingwashers from plate metal, thehorizontally-moving punches, each having a central aperture constructedand arranged to operate as a die, each in co inbination with astationary die and each provided with a central punch supported uponadjustable keys to adjust the position of cutting and to compensate forwear, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a machine for punching washers from plate metal, the dies andpunches arranged to telescope the one within the other, in combinationwith the discharging-rods resting upon adjustable keys for expelling thewashers and scrap, substantially as set forth.

5. In a washer-punching machine, the combination of cylindric punchesand dies, provided with a retaining-collar with acorrespondingly-counterbored chuck adapted to fit recesses in the frameand sliding head of the machine, substantially as set forth.

6. In a washer-punching machine, the series of punches and diestelescoping with each other, as described, in combination with aguiding-plate reciprocating on a pivot for guiding and delivering thescrap and Washers in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

7 In a washenpunching machine, the series ofdies and punches arranged inconjunction with the feeding devices, as described, to cut washers froma plate of metal so closely as to sever the scrap located between theWashers,

in eombinationwith a pair of shearing-blades diameter of the Washers,and thereby effect a 10 arranged to divide themarginal surplus metalseverance of the scrap located between the of the sheet into shortscrap, substantially Washers when such intermediate portion of as setforth. I plate is punched, substantially as set forth.

8. InaWasher-cuttin 'maohine the arran 'e- T ments of dies in series atsuch distances 1 AMOR MASON from each other that the plate intervening Ibetween the contiguous die-apertures shall I include a circular spaceequal to the outer lVitnesses:

EDW. HAUGH, A. VAN WYoK BUDD.

